Kukla's Korner Hockey

It was LeBron James-like, as the Saturday afternoon unfolded, and hockey fans across the continent learned that their teams had fallen out of the Justin Schultz race, one after another.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were out. Then the New York Rangers. Then the Vancouver Canucks. Then the Minnesota Wild.

It was a day made for Twitter, as fans and hockey writers were glued to their screens, waiting for the final word. And when it came, it was from the Edmonton Oilers’ official Twitter account, so you can guess who the winner was.

“It’s proven that, all of sudden, it’s a much different place to play. It’s kind of the first free agency bidding war the Oilers have ever won,” Edmonton defenceman Ryan Whitney said. “It shows where we’re going, where we’re headed.

“Not only did every coach want the job here, players do as well. It’s got to be a big day for whole organization and all of us players. It’s great.”